ATA Calls For Independent Truck Law Review

The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) recently called upon the Australian government and state transport ministers to appoint an independent committee to overhaul the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNA), which is scheduled to be revised in November.

Time For A Fresh Perspective

According to ATA Chair Geoff Crouch, the current HVNA was drawn up by the National Transport Commission, and his organisation is in favor of scrapping the old regulations and starting again with another group of lawmakers.

The ATA seeks to have toll road and landside port charges examined more closely moving forward. The organisation also condemned the Australian government’s proposal to move from the current PAYGO model to a forward-looking cost base with regard to how charges are calculated. Crouch characterised the move as “a complex new charging model” that does not support the infrastructure or support services that Australia’s truck network requires to thrive.

Not All Bad

The draft NHVR Compliance and Enforcement Policy is taking a risk-based approach to compliance, investigation, and enforcement, which the ATA applauds. Unfortunately, the organization says that it should apply equally to road agency officers and the police.

Crouch says that many of the issues the ATA has with the new regulations could have been addressed in advance if policy makers had consulted the organization earlier in the process. “In our view, all NHVR policies should be routinely released for 21 days of public consultation before being finalised,” he says.

The ATA Is Taking Action

As a proponent of self-regulation, the ATA has created a pair of new internal organisations, the Industry Communications Committee and the Mental Health and Wellbeing Committee. These entities are designed to promote the ATA and advocate for the health and wellness of drivers, business owners, and workshop staff.